Hydrogen sulfide exposure at a waste treatment facility

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations require employers to report workplace-related fatalities.((1)) OSHA inspection policy and procedures require that a workplace fatality or workplace hazards with potential imminent danger receive the highest priority for inspection.((2)) This inspection began on a Saturday when a local fire department advised the OSHA area office of a workplace fatality. The fire department also reported that the death was due to natural causes, based on a county coroner's report that stated the worker had died from a heart attack. Under normal circumstances OSHA begins a workplace fatality investigation within one day of notification. Workplace deaths due to natural causes, as was initially reported in this case, may not receive an OSHA inspection. However, subsequent to the incident, a family member contacted the OSHA area office and reported that the death may have been due to chemical vapor exposures, based on information from co-workers of the deceased. The family had already requested a toxicological screening of the victim and the coroner had agreed. Based on this new information, the local OSHA area office opened a facility inspection.